Project Activities

Herculaneum: Conservation of the Tablinum of the House of the Bicentenary

The GCI, in collaboration with the Herculaneum Conservation Project and the Archaeological Park of Herculaneum, is studying and conserving the wall paintings and mosaic pavement in the tablinum as an example of a conservation methodology that can be used for similar surfaces at archaeological sites in the Vesuvian region. The Phase I Project Report, now available, focuses on the examination, investigations, and condition assessment carried out on the architectural surface of the tablinum from 2011–16.

Seismic Retroffiting Project: Kuñotambo Case Study

This case study is a collaboration between the GCI and the Dirección Desconcentrada de Cultura-Cusco in Peru. Following structural assessment, numerical modeling, and testing of various seismic retrofitting techniques, a series of interventions was proposed to preserve and strengthen the mud-brick Church of Santiago Apóstolo—constructed in 1681—against future earthquakes.

The Seismic Retrofitting Project is a part of the Earthen Architecture Initiative, which seeks to advance earthen architecture conservation through model projects, research, capacity building, and dissemination of information for appropriate conservation interventions. See below for information on an upcoming course.

Courses and Workshops

Introduction to Conserving Modern Architecture

Registration materials now available.

May 7–9, 2018
Getty Center, Los Angeles

This course will provide professionals an opportunity to increase their basic knowledge of the conservation of modern buildings. The training will include an introduction to conservation principles, methodology, and technical best practices, as well as provide guidance on available resources.

The course is limited to twenty-five participants on a first-come, first-served basis. Find out more and register online.

International Course on the Conservation of Earthen Architecture 2018

Application materials now available.

October 28–November 22, 2018
Al Ain, United Arab Emirates

The aim of the course is to improve the practice of earthen heritage conservation by offering practical training for mid-career professionals from the Middle Eastern, North African, and South Asian regions.

Conservation of Plastics in Museum Collections

Save the Date

July 16–20, 2018
The Conservation Center, Institute of Fine Arts, New York University

The GCI is pleased to announce Conservation of Plastics in Museum Collections 2018, the first in a series of workshops on the conservation and preservation of plastics and rubbers in collections, and part of the institute's Research Into Practice Initiative.

The workshop program draws on the extensive experience of workshop instructors conservator Anna Laganà and conservation scientist Thea van Oosten, and from recent research conducted as part of the GCI's Preservation of Plastics project.

The Preservation of Plastics project is studying a wide range of plastic materials to understand how to prevent or slow their degradation, estimate risks, establish suitable approaches for their preservation, and design appropriate conservation treatments. One project component—Repair Studies—is exploring repair materials and methods.

Find our more about this new workshop series. Application materials will be available in January 2018.

Old Cities New Challenges (OCNC18): A Course for Urban Conservation in Southeast Asia

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September 29–October 6, 2018
Penang, Malaysia

The primary objective of OCNC18 is to improve urban conservation practices in Southeast Asian cities by providing participants with a fuller understanding of conservation methodologies and effective and practical tools and techniques for the conservation of historic places in urban contexts.
The curriculum for this course derives, in part, from the GCI's previous courses in the region.

Find out more about OCNC18. Application materials will be available in January 2018.

From the Iris

Relief No. 30, 1946, Raúl Lozza.
Colección Patricia Phelps de Cisneros. Promised gift to the Museum of Modern Art, New York, through the Latin American and Caribbean Fund.

If you missed them, listen to Part 1 and Part 2 of The Making of an Exhibtion.

Resources

Newly Acquired Titles

The newest additions to the Conservation Collection in the Research Library at the Getty Research Institute include works on photographing historic buildings, the working methods of Johannes Vermeer, and the study of traditional Islamic arts and crafts.

ICOM-CC Publications Online

Earlier this fall the ICOM-CC Directory Board announced the launch of ICOM-CC Publications Online, a free resource dedicated to providing access to all the triennial conference preprints from 1967 onwards. Preprints of the 16th and 17th conferences are currently available through the new platform with the 18th becoming available in January 2018. ICOM-CC will eventually incorporate all the individual papers from the triennials into the Publications Online platform.

Currently, the 3rd through the 10th triennial volumes scanned by the Getty Research Institute are available through the Internet Archive.

GCI Mission Statement
The Getty Conservation Institute (GCI) works internationally to advance conservation practice in the visual arts - broadly interpreted to include objects, collections, architecture, and sites. The Institute serves the conservation community through scientific research, education and training, field projects, and the dissemination of information. In all its endeavors, the GCI creates and delivers knowledge that contributes to the conservation of the world's cultural heritage.

About the GCI Bulletin
The GCI Bulletin is published electronically six times a year to keep partners and supporters up-to-date with GCI programs and activities.